Taylor Swift, Amanda Seyfried offered roles in ‘Les Miserables’

The singer has been offered the role of Eponine in Tom Hooper’s adaptation of the musical “Lis Miserables,” TwitchFilm reported and BroadwayWorld.com confirmed. One can only imagine that both Swift and devotees of the Broadway smash are making her signature surprised face upon hearing this news, albeit for very different reasons.

Amanda Seyfried has been offered the role of Cosette, the sweet ingenue given away by her mother, the doomed prostitute Fantine (Anne Hathaway), to the Thenardiers and later Jean Valjean. The “Mamma Mia!” star is a classically trained singer and established actress, so this casting decision seems perfectly reasonable.

But sweet ‘ol tween favorite Taylor Swift as a tragic street urchin? It just doesn’t make sense.

As we previously noted here in Celebritology, Hooper had narrowed his Eponine options down to Swift, “Glee’s” Lea Michele, Scarlett Johansson and Evan Rachel Wood. Of the nearly 3,000 people who voted in our poll, 79 percent of voters thought Broadway vet Michele should get the role, compared to Swift’s 6 percent.

Swift’s poor performance can likely be explained by her lack of proven acting talent (making out with Taylor Lautner in “Valentine’s Day”does not count) and her limited vocal range. Sure, Swift can sing a sad ballad about sitting on the bleachers and pining for a boy. But it’s hard to imagine her belting out the unrequited love anthem, “On My Own,” while wandering the streets of Paris.

And can she really hold her own in a film with Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe as leading men, Jean Valjean and Javert? That remains to be seen. One way or the other, this role will have a lasting impact on Swift’s career.

What do you think of Swift as Eponine and Seyfried as Cosette? Sound off in the comments.